Page 24 of Taeja

“You need to find someone new!” Liyah declared. “This is not the Taeja Marley I know. Look how yaa cry like smaddy dead.”

“You’re not helping, Liyah…” Taeja complained before rolling over onto her side on the bed. From this position, she saw her phone turned face down on Liyah’s bedside table.

The notifications on her phone went crazy since she disappeared. Even Zain had called her ten times. For the aloof man, that must’ve been a record.

Their consistency had almost made Taeja give in, but Aaliyah confiscated her phone and silenced it. Taeja was thankful. If Liyah wasn’t being her rock, shewould’ve gone crawling back to them.

It wasn’t like her to be this weak for men. She knew better than to get too close because they always ended up hurting her. But she thought things would be different this time. With them. The Stark twins.

It was in the way they spoke to her, with genuine interest lacing their tones while she hung on to their every word. It was in the way they looked at her as if she was a trophy rewarded to them after a tiring race.

They gave her the feeling she searched for in her old flings. A feeling of belonging. A feeling of being someone’s safe space because that was how they made her feel — safe.

Hell, she already met their mother and father. That should’ve counted for something, right?

The foolish part of her didn’t want to believe Andrew’s words. Sure, they were moving extremely fast. But she didn’t mind their pace. It felt right.

“I’m sorry, babe,” Liyah said, then sighed. “I’ve never seen you cry over a man before, so I don’t know what to do.”

“Keep telling me that men are dogs.”

“They’re dogs!” Liyah professed. “Dat’s why mi naa stop give dem bun.”

Taeja chuckled weakly before turning away from her phone to look at Aaliyah. Liyah was sitting on the floor, slouching while glancing at the two nail polishes.

“I like the lavender one,” Taeja suggested.

“Of course, you do. You’ll become lavender one day.”

Chuckling, Taeja rolled her eyes. “How are things with Mason?”

“He took me on the date as an apology for cheating. He kept saying how much he loves me and misses me,” Liyah said. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder— Hey, I know that look. No, you’re not going to ignore the twins tonight, then text them tomorrow as cock put on dem draws.”

“I was thinking about doing it as soon as I leave here,” she joked. Sighing, she rolled over onto her back to look at the mirror Mason installed on Liyah’s ceiling. She frowned at the reflection staring back at her. She was freshly showered and dressed in one of Liyah’s silk shorts set pajamas. “I don’t know how to feel. I mean, we haven’t known each other for very long, so they don’t owe me anything.But when they wanted to introduce me to their parents, I thought I was special. Now I’m finding out that they always share?”

“They’re twins… It shouldn’t be so shocking.”

“True, but still.” Taeja sighed. “It’s whatever… I think I should just go to sleep so I can stop feeling like thi—” Her words were cut off by a loud bang. Taeja looked toward the door while Aaliyah sat more upright.

“Sas Crise! Who a bruk ina mi place?” Aaliyah whispered to Taeja, whose heart was wildly beating.

“We should call the police.” Taeja reached for her phone.

“Police?” Liyah scoffed. She got off the floor and grabbed the metal bat she always kept by her bedside. “By the time the police get here, they’ll be gone with what little I have.”

Did Aaliyah think this was a movie? What were two young women supposed to do with a metal bat if it was an intruder?

“Stay close to me,” Liyah whispered, while Taeja quietly hopped out of bed. “One of America nuff law dem must seh mi have the right fi kill dem.”

They moved toward the ajar door, and Liyah placed a shaking hand on the knob. She cautiously pried it open, peeking her head out before motioning for Taeja to follow her. They tiptoed toward the living room. Another loud pound came on the door, followed by a voice that made Taeja freeze.

“Taeja. We know you’re in there. Open this fucking door or else—”

Aaliyah paused, looking over her shoulder at Taeja. “Is that one of your boyfriends?”

“They’re not my boyfriends,” Taeja whispered, her shoulders dropping. “I’m going to hide. Tell him I’m not—”

A screech tore from Aaliyah’s mouth as the door flew off its hinges. Taeja’s mouth fell from shock. From across the room, she felt the anger rolling off the newcomer in waves.

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